Magazine for fastener driving tool



p 1965 A. LANGAS ETAL 3,207,405

MAGAZINE FOR FASTENER DRIVING TOOL Filed April 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 21, 1965 A. LANGAS ETAL MAGAZINE FOR FASTENER DRIVING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1963 United States Patent 3,207,405 MAGAZINE FOR FASTENER DRIVING TOOL Arthur Langas, Chicago, and Harrison C. Lingle, Wilmette, 111., assignors to Siguode Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,567 3 Claims. (Cl. 227-125) This invention relates to a fastener driving tool and, particularly, to a magazine for storing fasteners to be driven by such tool.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 152,426, filed November 15, 1961, now Patent No. 3,016,136, in the names of Arthur Langas and Harrison C. Lingle, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The magazines presently being used for staples and other similar types of fasteners are constructed of a large number of parts resulting in a complex and relatively expensive piece of equipment. The many parts tend to come loose and get lost thus limiting the effective life of the magazine. This is particularly true when the magazines are used with pneumatic fastening tools with which there are associated substantial vibration forces.

The type of magazine in general use today is designed to completely enclose the row of fasteners disposed therewithin. This design, while generally satisfactory, has two principal disadvantages, which are, (1) it prevents the operator from readily ascertaining the number of fasteners remaining in the magazine and (2) it results in the formation of pockets in which foreign material can collect. The collection of foreign material creates a condition that substantially reduces the efliciency of the magazine.

The clogging problem is particularly acute when the tools are to be used in the construction industry. In this environment, there are large quantities of sawdust and other foreign material present at all times. When the magazine becomes clogged, it must be at least partially disassembled and the various parts cleaned before the tool can be returned to its operating condition. This results in a substantial loss of time, which is very costly.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a magazine that is simple in construction yet highly efficient in operation. The magazine is made of relatively few parts and is designed so that the staples located therein are in view at all times. The staples are positively retained in the magazine, but at the same time are not encumbered by slidable covers, or the like, which substantially minimizes the amount of time necessary to reload the magazine.

The disclosed design includes a rail assembly that supports a row of staples, and guides them into position to be driven by the driver of a fastening tool. The staples are slidably disposed on the rail, while at the same time being resiliently held against separation from the rail. The resilient means provided for retaining the staples on the rail and for preventing them from climbing over each other consists of a longitudinally extending flexible spring member that includes a depending lip that engages the top of the staple row. The spring extends substantially the full length of the rail and has a pair of depending legs that are secured to the rail assembly. The spring is designed with sufficient biasing force to retain the staples in place on the rail, but the force is not such as to prevent the spring from being readily displaced to load the magazine. To load the magazine, the operator need only apply a small force against the spring lip to move it sufficiently away from the rail to expose the rail so that an adhered row of staples can be placed thereon. This simplified construction provides large spaces between individual ele- 3,207,405 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 "ice ments, which avoids the formation of pockets or crevices in which foreign material could collect and tend to clog the magazine. If any dirt collects, the operator can readily remove it from the magazine to prevent future operational problems. The time saved in loading and the reduction, if not elimination, of lost time or inefiicient operation due to clogging are among the many obvious advantages of the novel magazine disclosed herein.

The structure by which the above and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred structural embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partially broken away, taken along one side of a stapler and associated magazine;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but looking at the opposite side of the lower portion of the stapler housing and magazine; and

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a pneumatic stapler A including a housing 1 having a body portion 2 that serves as a handle by which the operator can grasp and manipulate the stapler. The handle is cored to provide a storage chamber into which air under pressure from any suitable source is introduced through a hose 3. The head end 4 of the housing 1 contains a cylinder in which a driving piston and a staple driver 5 secured thereto is located.

The operation of the drive piston is controlled by a plurality of valves including a pilot valve 7 that is operated by a trigger 8. The details of the stapler and the operation thereof are not important to an understanding of the present invention. The construction of a representative stapler with which the magazine constituting the present invention can be used is fully disclosed in the aforementioned Langas et al. Patent No. 3,016,136, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

The staple driver 5 extends through a driver and staple guide 9 wherein it engages a staple to drive it into position. The staple in the guide 9 is the end staple of an adhered row of staples 11 located in a magazine B secured to the staple housing 1.

The instant application is directed to the details of the novel magazine B, which magazine is designed to retain a large number of staples for-med in an adhered array in such a manner that (1) the quantity of staples present in the magazine at any given time will be readily apparent to the operator and (2) the magazine will remain relatively free of foreign material.

The magazine B consists of a longitudinally extending hat shaped rail member 13 and a base member 14. The rail member 13 and base 14 are secured at one end to the base 4a of the housing section 4 by screws 15. The other end of the rail assembly is secured to the handle support arm 2a by screws 16. The rail 13 is shaped to slidably support a glued row of staples and the base 14 is designed with projections 14a which extends beyond the head of the screws 15, 16 to provide a smooth support for the magazine. The front end of the rail assembly extends within a recess 17 defined by the housing base 4a and includes therewithin a shear block 18 that forms a side wall for the staple and staple driver 5 during the driving movement thereof. The shear block is riveted or otherwise positively secured to the rail member 13.

The row of staples 11 slidably disposed on the rail 13 is resiliently biased toward guide 9 by a follower 20 that is shaped to contact the end staple. The follower 20 is biased into engagement with the rear end of the row of staples by a negator spring 21, one end of which is secured to an offset wall portion 20a of the follower by a nut and screw assembly 22 (see FIGURE 3). The drum portion 21a of the negator spring 21 is secured to the stapler housing 4 by a negator pin 23 (see FIGURE 2).

The follower has a tab 26 whereby it can be readily grasped and moved longitudinally into a latched position to permit reloading of the magazine. The follower 20 defines a circular opening 27 which is adapted to receive a latch pin 28 to hold the follower in the retracted position when the magazine is to be loaded. The latch pin 28 is spring-biased outwardly of the rail side wall by a spring 29 located between the side walls of the rail. The latch pin is retained in osition relative to the rail by a cotter pin 30. Thus, when the follower is moved rearwardly to be latched, it will engage and depress the pin until the latch pin and opening 27 are in alignment, at which time the pin will move through said opening to retain the follower in the retracted position. The forward movement of the follower is limited by cooperating stop members 31, 32 secured to the base 4a of the stapler housing and the follower 20, respectively.

The staple row is prevented from moving away from the rail by a longitudinally extending spring 35 that engages the crown portion of the staples to bias them against the flat upper wall of the rail. The spring 35 includes an upper curved section 36 that extends along a major portion of the rail. The curved section terminates in a lip 37 that engages the staple crowns and exerts sufiicient force thereon to hold the staples in place even if the stapler is turned upside down. Depending from the curved section 36 are a pair of longitudinally spaced legs 38 which are secured to the rail member 13 by screws 39.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, it is seen that the cross-section of the spring 35 is in the form of the numeral 2, which design permits the negator spring assembly to be disposed between the spring and rail. Also, it is to be noted that the spring is spaced from the handle support arm 2a and does not extend into the recess 17 in the base 4a so that these members will not restrict movement of the spring lip 37 away from the rail assembly,

With this arrangement, the rail can be quickly and easily loaded with staples in the following manner: (1) pull the follower 20 back to the latched position in which the latch pin 28 is located in the opening 27; (2) move the depending lip portion of the spring away from the rail until the rail is exposed; (3) place the staples on the exposed rail assembly; and (4) release the follower from the latch pin by depressing the latch pin.

While the invention has been directed to a magazine for use with a pneumatically operated stapler, it is apparent that the magazine assembly disclosed is not limited to such use and can be used with other than a pneumatically operated fastening tool. Likewise, with suitable modifications, the magazine can be used with fasteners other than staples, such as T-nails, or the like. Other designs that could be employed include connecting the spring 35 to the base member 14 or directly to the stapler housing. Also, the design of the spring could be changed if desired, as long as it is capable of performing its intended function.

:From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected Without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.

It is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications and embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A magazine assembly for a fastener driving tool comprising a rail guide assembly including a rail for supporting an adhered row of fasteners, a fastener follower slidably disposed on said rail and adapted to engage said row of fasteners, spring means connected to the follower for biasing the fasteners into position to be driven, and resilient means secured to said rail guide assembly and defining an overhanging lip portion adapted to engage said fasteners at an intermediate section to maintain them in position on said rail guide.

2. A magazine assembly for a stapler comprising a frame member, a rail for supporting an adhered row of staples, said rail being connected to said frame at its ends, a staple follower slidably disposed on said rail, first spring means connected to the follower and frame member for biasing the staples into a driving position, second spring means for maintaining the staples in position on said rail, said second spring means including a longitudinally extending curved section defining a single overhanging lip extending along a major portion of said rail and adapted to engage the crowns of said staples at an intermediate portion and a pair of spaced legs which permit visual inspection of the size and quantity of staples in the magazine, and fastening means for securing said legs to said rail.

3. A magazine for a fastener driving tool having a housing including a base member and a longitudinally spaced support member, a rail assembly secured to said base and support members and comprising a rail member designed to support a row of staples, a staple follower slidably disposed on said rail, a negator spring connected to the follower and said base member for biasing the staples into position to be driven, cooperating means on said follower and rail assembly for latching the follower in a retracted position to facilitate the placing of staples on said rail member including a resiliently biased pin extending through said rail member and an opening defined by said follower which when retracted is positioned to receive said pin, and longitudinally extending resilient means disposed adjacent said rail'assembly and defining a pair of spaced legs adapted to be secured to said rail assembly, and an overhanging lip poition adapted to engage the crowns of said staplers to maintain them in position on sail rail.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,441,474 1/23 Anderson 1-419 2,396,356 3/46 Wickens l-3 2,482,156 9/49 Crosby 1419 2,755,473 7/56 Spencer 1-419 2,817,839 12/47 Skrebba 1-4l4 2,976,538 3/61 Kamborian 144.4 X 3,041,614 7/62 DHaem et a1 13 X GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A MAGAZINE ASSEMBLY FOR A FASTENER DRIVING TOOL COMPRISING A RAIL GUIDE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A RAIL FOR SUPPORTING AN ADHERED ROW OF FASTENERS, A FASTENER FOLLOWER SLIDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID RAIL AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID ROW OF FASTENERS, SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FOLLOWER FOR BIASING THE FASTENERS INTO POSITION TO BE DRIVEN, AND RESILIENT MEANS SECURED TO SAID RAIL GUIDE ASSEMBLY AND DEFINING AN OVERHANGING LIP PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID FASTENERS AT AN INTERMEDIATE SECTION TO MAINTAIN THEM IN POSITION ON SAID RAIL GUIDE. 